Politicians, friends and newspaper editors paid tribute Monday to Daily News reporter Rick Orlov at a public memorial at Los Angeles City Hall, the only time in recent memory a reporter has been celebrated at the ornate government building.

Recalling Orlov’s raspy voice and signature smile, speaker and former City Controller Wendy Greuel said politicians gravitated toward the veteran reporter and the Friday after-work cocktail parties he hosted at City Hall’s third floor press offices.

“Rick was a reporter that you actually liked … you’d end up telling him things off the record that you swore to your staff that you’d never say,” Greuel said.

A crowd of more than 100 filled City Council’s marble chambers to remember Orlov, who died Feb. 2 at age 66 from diabetes complications. Several family members, including Orlov’s sister Joanne Levy, also attended the service.

Orlov worked for nearly 30 years at City Hall, covering five mayors and a revolving door of City Council members.

Despite his health struggles, Orlov continued to work, filing a popular weekly column and as many as four or five stories a day on City Hall issues.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told the audience that Orlov’s writing was “as important as the columns that hold up” the chambers of City Hall.

“He wrote the history of this town, of its politics, of its policies,” Garcetti said. “He never quit.”

Known for his institutional knowledge of city and state politics, Orlov also excelled at breaking news, said Carolina Garcia, managing editor at Los Angeles News Group. She recalled how a suspected murderer once called Orlov, offering to surrender. In return for arranging the hand-over to police, Orlov insisted on a 20-minute interview with the suspect.

“Rick got his interview and got a really big scoop,” Garcia said.

Public memorials are only infrequently held at Council Chambers, a formal room where the city’s lawmakers convene three times a week. Avak Keotahian, City Hall’s unofficial historian, couldn’t remember another time in the last 40 years a memorial was held for a reporter at City Hall.

Before and after the ceremony, visitors streamed into the Daily News office for a final look at Orlov’s desk. His calender lay open on the desk, as did a thin, reporter’s notebook. Rocky and Bullwinkle figurines stood near his computer.

Despite the somber air at Monday’s event, speakers also recalled Orlov’s humor and charm.

He wasn’t afraid to show his impatience when a politician went on too long, said Greuel, recalling when Orlov would roll his eyes at her when she was speaking on the chamber floor.

Daily News columnist Dennis McCarthy said Orlov would want neither an emotional nor long memorial. He joked that he’d spoken to Orlov that morning, and the reporter said: “Keep it light.”

“He said he’d already spent too much time in this chamber, crying over the years, listening to politicians talk and argue,” McCarthy said.